Lawmakers plan to leverage their full investigatory authorities in the House and Senate to scrutinize President Donald Trump's administration across several fronts. Key inquiries will target public corruption involving cryptocurrency projects, overseas family business ventures, and the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein records. In addition, committees will examine federal immigration enforcement operations following reported abuses and the deaths of two American citizens in Minnesota.
Key points
Democratic majorities in Congress plan to substitute major legislative initiatives with e…: Democratic majorities in Congress plan to substitute major legislative initiatives with extensive oversight hearings and compelled testimony.
Oversight leaders are linking corporate lobbying, dark money, and administration business…: Oversight leaders are linking corporate lobbying, dark money, and administration business dealings directly to public corruption concerns.
Scrutiny will focus heavily on whether the Justice Department improperly concealed inform…: Scrutiny will focus heavily on whether the Justice Department improperly concealed information to protect the administration from allegations.
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Midterms coverage: Live results | What to know | Stories around the country
Democrats won big in the midterm elections, but with President Trump still in the White House, the next Congress is unlikely to see much major legislation signed into law.
Instead, expect to see a lot more oversight. With public corruption and failing leadership as two of the top issues concerning voters, congressional Democrats have an ambitious agenda of investigations planned for their return to power in the House and Senate.
Their new majorities mean that they will have at their disposal the full investigatory powers of the Congress, which include the ability to subpoena records for review and compel individuals to testify before lawmakers.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the California Democrat who is expected to become chair of the House Oversight committee, put it bluntly in a statement: "LAWYER UP."
The Democratic Party has a long list of investigative targets. According to conversations with Democratic House and Senate committee staffers, here are some areas the party…
Frustrated by overseas conflicts and neglected domestic needs, the electorate flipped both chambers of Congress to Democrats in a decisive rebuke to Donald Trump. Progressive contenders triumphed by challenging establishment foreign policy orthodoxy on Iran, Gaza, and Israel despite massive opposition from well-funded lobbying groups. However, the shift signals an anti-war revolt rather than broad approval of traditional party leadership.
The Louisiana Republican's departure from party leadership comes in the wake of midterm losses that cost the GOP its governing majority after seats flipped in traditionally red states. His planned exit paves the way for a transition to minority status, ending a turbulent tenure spent navigating razor-thin vote margins. House Republicans will choose their new minority leaders on Nov. 10.
British politicians faced immediate political fallout in the House of Commons after heavily misjudging the outcomes of the United States midterm elections. The rejection of Donald Trump at the American ballot box quickly spurred Conservative leaders to erase past endorsements, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage avoided chamber scrutiny despite his party's declining poll numbers.